42 SEA-FISHING. 



destination was a rocky promontory, jutting out into 

 the sea, on the far side of the loch, and about four 

 miles distant. The water there, Donald said, was 

 deep, and at the flowing tide fish were " unco' 

 many." 



The weapons of our warfare were somewhat curious : 

 a rod consisting of two very stiff pieces of hazel, spliced 

 so as to make a whole about six feet long ; and a line 

 about eight feet in length, made of horsehair, clumsily 

 twisted together, but sufficiently thick to be very 

 strong. On this line, at intervals of about a foot, were 

 fastened by trebled gut large white fly-hooks, three or 

 four in number. The mode of fishing was also new to 

 us. The rod was thrust into the water, close beside 

 the boat, in a vertical position, head downwards, so as 

 to cause the flies to float about a couple of feet below 

 the surface, and held in that position while the boat 

 continued its motion. An hour's steady pulling 

 brought us to our point, without any occurrence 

 worthy of mention, except that (having also brought 

 our guns) we stopped occasionally to fire at a chance 

 sea-fowl, as he floated unconcernedly by with only 

 one exception, however, unsuccessfully. We found it 

 most difficult to kill, from the quickness with which 

 such birds can dive beneath the surface, as well as 

 from the amount of shot they will carry. We saw the 

 feathers fly from more than one as we fired, but 

 quicker than thought they had disappeared under 

 water, and presently rose a few yards further from us, 

 apparently uninjured. One or two others fell, after 

 flying some distance, but too far off for us to follow. 

 An oyster- catcher was the only bird we secured, 

 Walter bringing it down as it passed over us in fancied 

 security. 



